Joe Ortiz' THE END TIMES PASSOVER! This is one of Joe's blog sites which is the title to one of his books that refute the Rapture to Heaven mythology. Ours is "Empowerment" theology, Not "Replacement" ~
The Old Testament church was not to be replaced, but it would be embolden. (Matthew 16:18; Isa. 49:13-23; 60:1 4). "Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar, (Proverbs 30:5-6)."

Tweet

Welcome

License

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Many people doubt their salvation and worry much
whether God is merciful enough to forgive all of our sins, especially our own unspeakable
sins that few know about, except for close friends and family members. We speak
not about those sins such as murder, rape, robbery, theft, larceny,
embezzlement, sins that are unlawful and require jail time. We speak about sins
of omission such as failing to adhere to the role designed for a spouse,
treating each other in a respectful and honorable manner, and failing to submit
to one an another as God has ordained in his word. Now, I’ll probably get many
negative responses with this particular message, especially by the wives in
your respective families. So be it; this message is Bible truth.

The first subject matter deals with the formula God
established in regard to marriage, one that we believe works well by those who
practice it: Submission! We find this formula in Ephesians
5:21-33. Oh, I can hear the groans and moans already,
especially by the younger and more liberal-minded wives who say, “Here comes
one of those submit to your husband sermons!”

“We are living in the 21st century and those verses
need to be applied by today’s standards,” lament many of today’s wives,
especially by (believe it or not) Christian woman. “Besides,” they complain,
“you have no idea what I have to deal with this lummox I married.”

This is true! Especially when one considers the images that the Pharisaical-controlled media have subtly foisted on society these last 50 years
or so, which demasculinize the male image and conversely give a preponderantly
masculine character to cause (a female) to take on
male characteristics. While there is proof that the females throughout
history were denied numerous ‘rights’ (voting, owning property, entering male
dominated vocations, etc), there has been a concerted effort to focus largely
on promoting the female as a strong, independent and ‘take charge’ person, characteristics
that often diminish traditional male role models.

There is no need to debate
this at this time, albeit it would require about ten years before any
mutually acepted and rational conclusion could be realized. Therefore, we will focus on the biblical
mandate as difficult as it may be to make the salient point being addressed in
this article. Actually, if the reader will take the time to read Ephesians
5:21-33 before moving forward, it will become abundantly clear
that the man’s responsibility in this formula carries a heavier burden, one
that requires his life. (Please go back and click this group of scripture, if
you haven’t done so already) and then return to the following paragraph.

Another issue that will also incur an indignant outcry
from woman is what Paul speaks about the role a wife should play concerning
teaching and preaching in a church setting. Brother Al Shannon, who writes for
the BIBLE PROOF, in his most recent article addressed this issue in his article
entitled “Not Every Saint is a Preacher.” He stated thus:

“Can Women Preach The Word? It takes a Saint to be a
preacher, but not every Saint is a preacher. This is evident because women
can’t serve as a gospel preacher because they were forbidden to publicly
address the congregational assembly (1 Corinthians 14:34-35). Women were
prohibited from teaching the Word of God anywhere, (1Timothy 2:11-15). They
were not to take that authority away from men. Women with their godly behavior
could win her own husband to Christ, but were prohibited using the Word of God
to do the same. (1 Peter 3:1)

The prohibition of women teaching and preaching was
only in regards to the Word of God. Aged women could teach younger women to be
chaste keepers at home, to love their husband and children, (Titus 2:3-5).
Women can sing songs of praise to God as all Christians are commanded, however,
they can’t lead the singing. (Ephesians 5:19),” [Al Shannon, BIBLE
PROOF, August 17, 2012].

Shannon’s reminder of this biblical proof must have
taken tremendous courage to write. Most Christian churches fail to preach this
part of the Bible, and it’s understandable why. Obviously, if a preacher
delivered such a sermon, you can well imagine that on the way home from church the
husband would be the recipient of those peering eyes from his wife, as if to
say, “Don’t you even think about it and don’t you even go there!”Many church-active and studiously trained
Bible-based woman, probably do know their Bible better than most husbands.

Nevertheless, the wise woman (in such a case) has an opportunity to
approach her husband and ask him to take a more leadership role in the family
by studying and becoming more knowledgeable
of the Bible than her.

Lastly, many married couples have skipped over a very
important part of the Bible, where we are told in Matthew 13:57-58 that a
Prophet is never without honor except in his country and within his own house:

57 And they were
offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour,
save in his own country, and in his own house.58 And he did not many mighty
works there because of their unbelief.

The most interesting aspect to this group of scripture
is verse 58, which confirms that very little positive work can be accomplished
under a familial or communal atmosphere where exists little faith. How many
anointed and dedicated men’s ministry have failed for this exact reason? How
many great ministries have failed to get off the ground because the family
members, collectively did not practice what is stated in Ephesians
5:21-33?

Understandably (and I have experienced this to a great
degree), whenever you start sharing the word of God to close friends and family
members, especially with the younger generation, they look at you like, “Give me
a break. I remember you in your earlier years. Now you got religion and you are
Mr. Holy Roller. Where’s that fun guy we remember so well?” Believe it or not,
this is felt to a greater degree among married couples:

“Come on honey, save it for your audience,” said the smug wife.

Sadly, with many couples, ‘familiarity does breed
contempt’ especially when both of you have experienced many trials together,
exposed yourself to numerous emotions that would appear trivial, childish,
juvenile and most importantly involving situations you would share with none
other but your spouse. Yet, opportunity presents itself that this is the time
to reinforce your obligation where the wife MUST submit and show reverence
(respect) to her husband. (Excuse me, I
had to check my ear plugs due to all that screaming noise).

Nevertheless this brings us back full circle. As we
stated at the beginning, God will no longer remember our past sins regardless
of how severe. You may have committed murder, rape, robbery, embezzlement and
other heinous crimes that many view God is so small He can’t forgive. Oh, you
will pay the price in jail or even be executed for that grave peccadillo. But,
He will forgive you, and you may still qualify for the Kingdom.

Likewise, the Bible makes it abundantly clear that not all Christians will
enjoy the same positional status and have the same honor, responsibility and
blessing in God’s Kingdom. It is true that each one who trusts in Christ has
the same salvation and will enter into the Kingdom.

But beyond salvation there
will be rewards for Disciples according to their service, and each must give an
account for failing some of the tasks they were given by God. Many will fail
those missions because they believed what worldly pastors taught , based on their
own conduct and example. These church leaders may have been charismatic,
eloquent, dynamic orators, writers of great books, articles and blogs with
great literary flair, being able to spew out scripture and their corresponding
numbers like a local auctioneer. But, yet, failing to preach the simple gospel;
never realizing that your call was a simple one.

'Wherefore
we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive
the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good
or bad,' 2 Corinthians 5:9-10).

We know Paul worked hard, we know why he endured such
persecution, gave up home, family, good name, ease, honors, in order to win
souls. He was laboring to be acceptable to Jesus Christ! He knew that he would
one day meet the Savior and longed to have Jesus say to him, 'well done, good
and faithful servant' (Matthew 25:23). But, at the Judgment Seat of Christ,
what we did for the glory of Christ will be measured:

"For other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now
if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work
of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he
shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall
suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire, (1st
Corinthians 3:11-15).

A person who genuinely believes they have been called
by Christ to preach or teach the word of God, needs to pray and examine what
God truly desires in their lives. Those motivated and committed individuals may
go out and pass out 1000 Bible tracts a day, they may go on the Internet and
post 35 Bible verses a day, post 100 religious photos on their web site, write
10 books, host a weekly 5 hour radio shows, or pastor a church that has 20
thousand members, and make claim they led 100 souls to Christ, and smugly sit
back and say, “Yes, I worked for the glory of God’ I will reap much in the
Kingdom. Maybe; however, as the word of God tells us, all of those claims can
burn and cause great loss!

What works do not burn? 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there
is no law, (Galatians 5:22-23).

God knew beforehand how He would
redeem His creation. He designed the manual for life based on His own unique
wisdom; which no man or woman has been able to discern or understand why He
does the things He does in His own way and in His own time, to form the effective family unit He has always desired.

I am reminded of a sermon given
by Charles Spurgeon, on June 19, 1989, about what was said in the book of John
5:2, as the most renowned woman in the world was dealing with taking care of
her guests.

“It does not need a strong
imagination to picture Mary, probably at that time the widowed mother of our
Lord. She is full of love, and of a naturally kind, sympathetic disposition.
She is at a marriage; and she is very pleased that her Son is there, with the
first handful of his disciples. Their being there has made a greater demand
upon the provisions than was expected, and the supply is running short; so she,
with an anxiety that was natural to such a mother, of her years, and of her
gentle spirit, thinks that she will speak to her Son, and tell him that there
is a want, so she says to him, "They have no wine."

There was not much amiss in that, surely; but
our Lord, who seeth not as man seeth, perceived that she was putting to the
front her motherly relationship, at a time when it was needful that it should
be in the background. How needful it was, history has shown; for the apostate
church of Rome has actually made Mary a mediatrix, and prayers have been
addressed to her; she has even been asked to use her maternal authority with
her Son. It was well that our Savior should check anything that might tend to
give any countenance to Mariolatry, which has been altogether so mischievous;
and it was needful for him to speak to his mother with somewhat more of
sharpness than, perhaps, her conduct, in itself alone, might have required.

So
her august Son felt bound to say to her, "Woman, what have I to do with
thee in such a matter as this? I am not thy son as a miracle-worker; I cannot
work to please thee. No; if I work a miracle as the Son of God, it cannot be as
your son; it must be in another character. What have I to do with thee in this
matter?" And he gives his reason: "Mine hour is not yet come."It was a gentle rebuke, absolutely needful from
the prescience of all that would follow. You can easily picture how Mary took
it. She knew Christ's gentleness, his infinite love, how for thirty years there
had never come anything from him that had grieved her spirit. So she drank in
the reproof, and gently shrank back, thinking much more than she said; for she
was always a woman who laid up these things, and pondered them in her heart.
She says very little, but she thinks a great deal; and we see in her after
conduct, in respect to this very miracle, that she thought very much of what
Jesus had said to her. Brethren, you and I, with the very best intentions, may
sometimes err towards our Lord; and if he then in any way rebukes us, and puts
us back, if he disappoints our hope, if he does not allow our ambitious designs
to prosper, let us take it from him as Mary took it from Jesus. Let us just
feel that it must be right, and let us in silence possess ourselves in his
presence.”

Are you doing the things that Christ wants you to do, or are you still trying to do it your own way?

###

For more information about the author and his books, blogs and web sites, please click on Joe Ortiz.

Follow by Email

Google+ Followers

Google+ Followers

Total Pageviews

The End Times Passover

Joe Ortiz has the distinction of being the first Mexican American in US history to conduct a talk show on an English-language, commercial radio station. He began his broadcasting career in 1971 at KABC TALK RADIO 790 AM in the highly competitive Los Angeles media market. He went on to become an award-winning broadcaster, news reporter and newspaper columnist in Los Angeles for over 30 years. Semi-retired, he promotes his three books on theology, is the President of the "Official Tom Flores Fan Club" and manages several blogs and web sites, and his public relations consulting company at Joe Ortiz Associates ~